self-management

The importance of supported self-management

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is encouraging people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to take an active role in managing their condition through its latest article Supported Self-Management Matters. Written by NRAS Founder and National Patient Champion Ailsa Bosworth MBE, the article explores how understanding and managing both the physical and emotional impact of RA can improve long-term health outcomes.

Highlighting the growing importance of self-management as NHS services face increasing pressures and more patients move to Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU) pathways, it encourages people with RA to monitor symptoms, stay informed about their condition, engage with educational resources, and seek support when needed.…

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Living with RA in Wales?

A chance to meet the team who support you!

NRAS is pleased to invite people in Mid-Wales to an in-person event in Aberystwyth on the 22nd of October 2025.

Members of the NRAS team, including Director of Innovation and Services Donagh Stenson, will be joined by Professor Karim Raza, Consultant Rheumatologist, Bronglais Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Sarah O’Donovan, a rheumatology nurse specialist who works with Professor Raza. The event will consist of talks by Donagh and Karim about how NRAS can support people to self-manage their condition and about developments in rheumatology care.…

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Versus Arthritis Work Adjustment Plan

Designed to help people with arthritis address work-related barriers and self-manage their condition in work

Versus Arthritis is aware that working with arthritis can be challenging, with a disability employment gap of 20% for those living with arthritis compared to those without arthritis.

Versus Arthritis surveys and research in partnership with CMHW offered an insight into what could make a difference to work outcomes for people living with the condition.

As a result of these findings, the information on the work area of the Versus Arthritis website has been updated.…

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NRAS Exclusive Webinar on Supported Self-Management

NRAS invites healthcare professionals to exclusive webinar on supported self-management.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar designed to empower healthcare professionals with tools and insights for supported self-management in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). These webinars will provide an overview of NRAS’s key services and resources, aimed at enhancing patient care and professional practice.

Webinar Details:
7th July 2025, 1pm: Hosted by Ailsa Bosworth, MBE

The session will last approximately 45 minutes and offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to learn about NRAS’s free services.…

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getUBetter proves a vital partner in supporting MSK waiting lists

As NHS services continue to navigate rising demand and resource challenges, getUBetter is proving to be a vital partner in enhancing MSK care and turning passive waiting lists into active ones. Recently deployed across Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (NHFT) as part of the national Get It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK improvement programme, the getUBetter app is already making an immediate impact.

In collaboration with NHFT’s MSK Physiotherapy team, getUBetter delivered a bespoke, fully branded digital self-management solution within only 4 weeks.…

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Living Well with Arthritis: self-management event

Thursday 19th June 2025, 6.00-7.00pm

Arthritis Action is running its popular introduction to self-management event for those that are new to the concept. The online event will introduce and address topics such as: pain management, healthy eating & weight management, staying active, hobbies and social life, emotional wellbeing and pacing and distraction techniques.

Tickets are free and anyone interested in attending can contact [email protected] or send a message via WhatsApp: 07702 813737 or book direct from Eventbrite.

New patient decision aid on knee osteoarthritis for primary care

NHS England and NICE have worked together to produce new patient decision aids (also known as Decision Support Tools) last year, including one on knee osteoarthritis. These were developed in accordance with NICE’s standards framework for shared-decision-making support tools, and support making decisions about:

Self-management activities
Using treatments like tablets, creams and injections
Surgery, or wearing special shoes

Patient decision aids enable shared decision making by making treatment, care and support options explicit. They provide evidence-based information about the associated benefits/harms and help people consider what matters most to them in relation to the possible outcomes, including doing nothing.

Health Inequalities – the wider context and challenges to a self-management approach

by Noha Al-Afifi, Interim CEO, Arthritis Action

There’s no doubt from the ARMA Act Now report that the current tough economic environment is exacerbating inequalities in healthcare provision and access. With the scale of the task, it could be easy to get overwhelmed by the challenge. As important is that the report urges all to recognise the wider context and environment in which healthcare sits and to encourage small scale, localised action plans.

Helping both our members and the wider public to take control of their arthritis has inevitably led us to provide resources beyond health advice.…

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NASS at the EULAR Congress

The National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (NASS) will be at EULAR Congress to present on their supported self-management for people living with axial SpA.

Programme Manager Zoë Clark will present in the session ‘Exploring self-management: definitions and life’ on Saturday, 15 June 2024 at 11.45am.

If you’re attending EULAR and would like to meet to discuss the NASS Supported Self-management Programme, please get in touch with Zoë at [email protected].

Webinar: MSK waiting list self-management support

“How to implement self-management support for MSK patients on waiting lists”

Join a live webinar with getUBetter as they share their insights on how to implement digital self-management support for musculoskeletal (MSK) patients on waiting lists.

12% of the UK adult population is on a waiting list, with 10,000 waiting for a T&O operation across an Integrated Care System (ICS). The length of waiting lists, persistent pain, and deconditioning are all a problem. There’s an absolute need to provide evidence-based locally configured peri-operative self-management support and safety netting for patients on waiting lists, wherever they are waiting in the system.…

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